Friday, April 17, 2015

News Headlines (532) 1 April - 15 April 2015

ONLINE TODAY

► 1 April 2015 : It seems as if so much has happened these past few months that your life has irrevocably changed. Although the stability you once relied on has faded, you could gain small victories in your current battle to regain control. You're ready to swing into action right away now that clever Mercury is visiting your spontaneous sign. But reacting too quickly might have you running off in the wrong direction, determined to fix a problem that can wait. Ask someone you trust to help you set new priorities today before you make a mistake. Look before you leap.

► 2 April 2015: Your life is unfolding in super-fast motion today, yet it might not seem overwhelming at all. In fact, you could be experiencing great pleasure in keeping up with the hectic pace. Paradoxically, you are quite realistic about the work ahead, even if your ideas about all your current projects are blown out of proportion. Nevertheless, exercising a little caution is helpful and may be the key that enables you to accomplish the very ambitious goals you have set. Feeding off the buzz can carry you to great heights.

► 3 April 2015 : You want to say what's on your mind right away, but you will be better off if you let the other person speak first. It's not helpful to think about your response while someone else is still talking; you need to listen to every word that's being said. Only after you have thoroughly digested what you heard can you begin to successfully communicate your point of view. Forget about trying to defend your conclusion to the bitter end. Success is more likely if you are open to improving your strategy by listening to the perspectives of those who disagree with you as well as those who support you.

► 4 April 2015 : You're willing to jump in but your common sense reminds you of the price you often pay when you dive in before testing the depth and temperature of the water. Today's Libra Lunar Eclipse is opposite your Aries Sun sign, complicating your life because of the strong ambivalence it brings. Something doesn't feel quite right and you're correct to trust your instincts now. Before you say yes without thinking first, pull back a bit to find a healthy balance.

► 5 April 2015 : Keeping your social life in order requires a real diligence on your part today because of pressures building from several different directions. You might have too many commitments on your calendar or your schedule may be disrupted by an urgent need to take care of more pressing personal issues. But even if you try to avoid emotional confrontation now, circumstances demand that you deal with the conflict between your feelings and someone else's agenda. This is a turning point in managing your relationships; responding honestly sets a positive example for everyone else.

► 6 April 2015 : You're not willing to continue on in your old ways any longer. You are eagerly anticipating a big change, but aren't ready to communicate your new perspective to anyone else because you don't want to shock your friends with your radical ideas. Nevertheless, you might not be able to contain your enthusiasm today and may blurt out the truth before you even think about what you're going to say. Thankfully, it isn't necessary to stress about something you haven't yet shared; everything will come out into the open when the time is right.

► 7 April 2015 : You might suddenly realize there is a limit to your seemingly bottomless well of vitality. You could be running on empty now because it's unlikely that you conserved much energy over the past few weeks. Don't pretend that you can continue to carry on without making some much-needed modifications to your lifestyle. Instead of waiting until you hit the proverbial wall, make time for some overdue rest today. There is no valid excuse for procrastinating when it comes to taking care of your health.

► 8 April 2015 : You love surprises on a day like today, even if your plans fall apart. Change is so exhilarating that you don't really care what happens next as long as you are in charge. However, it's wise to consider a gentler approach to life because you could scare others away with your overzealous attitude. Nevertheless, communicator Mercury's hook-up with innovative Uranus enables you to be brilliant if you don't push too hard. Thankfully, you can still get what you need without offending anyone if you just stop and consider all of the ramifications before jumping in.

► 9 April 2015 : You might believe that you can zip through your day without encountering any problems at all, but it won't take long for your imagination to run into reality. Luckily, it will take more than a minor setback to eat away at your confidence. Unfortunately, having a brilliant idea doesn't mean you can turn it into a successful plan unless you're committed to giving it hundred percent. Nevertheless, creative pursuits can be the source of great pleasure now if you're willing to work within the scope of your current limitations.

► 10 April 2015 : Your nerves are on edge, heightening your awareness of the excitement in your life now. Fortunately, you also realize you must maintain your cool at all costs if you want to earn the respect of others. No matter how impatient you are today, it's crucial to filter out some of your most radical ideas so you can effectively make your point. Taking an innovative approach is still your best option, but keep in mind that the world is relying on you to show up in a responsible manner.

► 11 April 2015 : It feels as if the world is your playground today with so many fascinating ways to spend your time. However, you may grow resentful if you can't escape your responsibilities long enough to chase more pleasurable pursuits. Nevertheless, anyone who stands in your path to possible happiness might become the easy target for your negativity. Fortunately, you're better able to compromise once you acknowledge that your desires are on the extreme side now. You can't always live in the moment; personal fulfillment comes from balancing your need for immediate gratification with your respect for promises already made.

► 12 April 2015 : Your secret weapon today is faith, and you might actually be able to manifest a dream if you believe in it strongly enough. However, even the slightest bit of doubt could be enough to let your goal slip through your fingers and disappear back into your imagination. When energetic Mars blends its fiery convictions with the magic touch of otherworldly Neptune, others may see you as a benevolent wizard. But there's no trickery involved; it's only the laws of nature cooperating with your powerful intuition. Your job is to believe in yourself and dance to the music you hear in your heart.

► 13 April 2015 : It doesn't matter how altruistic your intentions are today; you may be so preoccupied with your own needs that you hurt someone's feelings without even realizing it. Just because your agenda makes logical sense to you doesn't mean that anyone else will share your perspective. Reconsider your options before doing something that you might quickly regret. Talking about your plans with those you trust helps in more ways than one. Harnessing your enthusiasm for the good of all is your best bet.

► 14 April 2015 : You might think you have a handle on the events of the day, but you're most likely viewing reality through rose-colored glasses. Your absolute certainty is misleading to people who take your words at face value. Although the facts are foggy, your intuition is strong today. Be fair to all parties involved by acknowledging your temporary disorientation before creating any unnecessary discord. Your happiness depends on your ability to be honest with everyone now, especially yourself.

► 15 April 2015 : Finding love and keeping it alive isn't just a matter of making a wish and blowing out the candles. The truth is it takes a lot of hard work to make a relationship endure over the long haul. Whether you are single or not, you may feel as if you're on your own now. Initiating communication won't necessarily reignite the passion but it can build a foundation of trust. Although it might feel uncomfortable at first, revealing your vulnerability is the necessary first step to creating a solid emotional bond that survives the tests of time.

Ah, this is too wordy. If you betray me, I'll go. Our relationship is over, thank you for trying to be together forever. We have tried our best, but it is impossible, cause we know, only death that goes on forever.

So, goodbye. Easy, right?

That's why I'm so afraid of marriage, because I do not want someone else can easily hurt my feelings under various pretexts, and he will make me like a fool, ... so humiliated, worthless... then what is left behind only depression, madness. Auuw, love, I cry out to you, "You are really fucking if you make me die because of you!"

Better I live alone with sufficient finances to cope with a variety of minor problems that may occur, for example, about toilets, electricity, kitchen, ceiling, water distribution, air conditioning, refrigerator and all utensils, ... Jeez! It seems I must look for a very technical person to be a new helper as well as a friend.

Friend? Oooh... dahling, I'm just guessing, can we really be strangers to one another when, perhaps, someday, we'll split up? And when the time comes, you're not my friend anymore? ... forever ...?

► POP SCIENCE 30 March 2015 : Ask Us Anything: How Common Is Scientific Fraud? Short answer: At least one in 50 scientists is doing something fishy || ► SCIENCE DAILY 29 May 2009 : How Many Scientists Fabricate And Falsify Research?

► HRW 1 April 2015 : ICC : Palestine is Newest Member || ► TELEGRAPH 1 April 2015 : Palestinian Authority formally joins ICC - but what will it mean for Israel and PA? || ► GUARDIAN 1 April 2015 : Palestinian Authority becomes member of international criminal court || ► VOX 1 April 2015 : Palestine just formally joined the International Criminal Court. Here's what that means. || ► DAILY MAIL 1 April 2015 : International court welcomes Palestinians as 123rd member || ► NY POST 1 April 2015 : Palestinian Authority becomes member of International Criminal Court. Israel is not a member of the ICC, but the country’s military and civilian leaders could now face charges if they are believed to have committed crimes on Palestinian territory. || ► J POST 31 March 2015 : As Palestinians go to ICC, NGO files war crimes complaint against Hamas

► TIMES OF INDIA 5 April 2015 : Have sex 11 times a month for a happy married life. "Emotional betrayal through a virtual affair can be even more damaging to a marriage than a physical affair," said Neuman, author of the book titled "Emotional Infidelity: How to Affair-Proof Your Marriage and 10 Other Secrets to a Great Relationship." || ► CHICAGO TRIBUNE 14 January 2015 : Online infidelity: Identifying, and dealing with, cyber affairs

► THIS IS MONEY 1 April 2015 : Insurance that pays out for hotels that get haunted or if you get exterminated by a Dalek

Dear friends of the Museum of Contraception and Abortion, "long time no see" – since we have been more than busy in building up our new museum we didn’t send any newsletters for quite a while! But because our work has progressed nicely the tradition of our regular newsletters can be renewed.Read here juicy treats regarding pregnancy tests: Wheat, beer and frogs"Frequently signs of pregnancy are vague or so difficult to understand that women are mistakingly seen as pregnant. In other cases pregnancy is recognised very late. Not only midwives and women themselves were mistaken, even doctors knew very little on physical signs till the 18th century."

Read more in: Jacques Gélis: Die Geburt – Volksglaube, Rituale und Praktiken von 1500 bis 1900 (Birth – popular belief, rituals and practices, 1500 – 1900)Nowadays it's quick and easy to learn whether or not one is pregnant. An urine test from the pharmacist’s clarifies this question even shortly before the expected monthly bleeding. Chemistry does the job.Up till the 1970s a frog was "State of the Art". This biological indicator worked nearly as precisely as today’s testkits do – but much slower and more laborious. Its developer Carlos Galli Mainini gave a shot containing a few milliliters of the potentially pregnant woman's urine or serum into the dorsal lymph vessel or under the skin. If the pregnancy proved true the frog himself produced sperm within 3 hours. The animal had no pain whatsoever and could do the trick over and over after a few weeks.Read more in: Semana Medica 64, 337, March 1947 und Acta Obst. Gyn. Scand. Vol. 30, 3, 308-314, 1950.Even as shrewd detectives we could not track down any movies or photographs showing this test of great historical importance. But we were successful in recording an interview with a contemporary witness which can be watched by future visitors of the museum.Biological test kits use the fact that the pregnancy hormone hCG (humane Chorion-Gonadotropin) closely resembles the Luteinizing Hormone LH, which is brain’s tool for controlling ovulation and sperm production respectively. In case of pregnancy a large amount of hCG can be detected in urine. Acting as an overstimulation with LH it produces the described reactions in animals.Production of Pregnancy Hormone (hCG or ß-hCG, humane Chorion Gonadotropin) starts at day 4 after fertilisation, initially from the fertilised egg, subsequent from the placenta. As late as in 1953 a classic textbook of laboratory diagnostics summs up the following pregnancy tests, then very common and all of them using urine or serum: Besides the frog test it was Aschheim-Zondek-Reaction on mice, unfortunately very slow (72-100 hours), furthermore the mice had to be killed. Friedmann-Test (24-48 hours, working with virgin rabbits, reusable after 4 weeks), Hogben-Test (6-24 hours, frogs, reusable after 4 weeks), Zondek-Sulman-Black-Test (2-8 hours, rats had to be killed).Disappointingly it proved unspecific and unreliable to detect pregnancy using agglutination reaction of dysentery germs (Bacterium dysenteria Flexner) or cholera vibrions.Read more in: Laboratoriumsdiagnostik, Urban & Schwarzenberg publishers, 1953In 1951 Doctor Hasenbein (literally: hare’s leg) from Kiel University presented a pregnancy test using earthworms. Knowledge has not been handed down why this test has not been developed any further, considering its good results of 90 percent plus the well known modesty of earthworms.Read more in: Arch. Gyn., 181, 15-28 (1951)In France the so called "garlic test" was in use well into the 18th century: When going to bed a woman who wanted to know about a possible pregnancy, put a clove of garlic into her vagina. If her breath shows the typical smell next morning she cannot be pregnant because the presence of an embryo prohibits such a diffusion through her body. In contrast clear breath proves fertilisation.Such a vision was quite convincing, since due to their form cloves of garlic were understood as symbol of a cuddled fetus.Some hints regarding pregnancy can be drawn from the lady's eyes: "In the second month" wrote French accoucheur Jacques Guillemeau, "women show lacklustre caved-in eyes with tiny pupils, weak and droopy eyelids, and the tiny vessels in the corners of the eye are thicker and more swollen than usual." Furthermore her glances change: "If there is no other hint on a woman's pregnancy, it's her eyes." Eyes are pregnancy's mirror.Well-known accoucheur Louise Bourgeois explained in 1626: "The midwife can cautiously feel around, whether the womb is like a chicken's backside, too tightly closed to insert a grain of wheat."Read more in: Jacques Gélis: Die Geburt – Volksglaube, Rituale und Praktiken von 1500 bis 1900 (Birth – popular belief, rituals and practices, 1500 – 1900)In old Egypt potentially pregnant women had to eat a mash of beer and dates. Vomitting was seen as proof of pregnancy. Turning away from strong smells and a weak feeling from the stomach are even nowadays seen as signs of a pregnancy. For another egyptian test grains of wheat or barley were spilled with the potentially pregnant woman’s urine: Barley growing well meant a son, wheat growing well predicted a daughter. Neither nor meant the lady was not pregnant. Scientists in 1963 repeating this test assembly had 70 percent hits.Read more in: Europ. J. Obst. Gyn. Repr. Biol. 123 (2005) 3-8In 1960 the first immunological test kits using biochemical methods for detecting pregnancy hormone hCG were in use, but gave wrong results frequently because of poor precision. So women had to wait for their hCG level high enough for a clear-cut result which meant passing another 2 weeks after the expected time of the monthly bleeding.Not before 1975 the eminent break through of monoclonal antibodies allowed an early and fast pregnancy test, discriminating between hCG and pituitary hormone LH. Finally there was no more need for using living animals for an early pregnancy detection.One of the newly founded Museum of Contraception and Abortion’s goals is to document the history of pregnancy tests. For this reason we ask all our readers and friends for cooperation by searching documents, images, announcements, ads, lab reports, articles, diaries etc. regarding the pregnancy test with frogs/toads, which was widely common and reliable till the 1970s.#####With a number of interesting new objects having already been donated, we are still happy to get interesting objects for the planned Museum for Contraception and Abortion, such as films, posters, leaflets, books, documents, statistics, devices and instruments for contraception, for pregnancy-testing and for abortion - from past and present times, from locally and elsewhere.You can also help us by sponsoring the purchase of objects, which otherwise we would not be able to finance.
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► E ONLINE 19 March 2015 : Find Out When Kate Middleton Will Make Her Final Public Appearance Before Giving Birth! || ► HELLO MAGAZINE 20 March 2015 : Kate to carry out three engagements before going on maternity leave || ► CELEB DIRTY LAUNDRY 21 March 2015 || ► THE WEEK 10 April 2015 : Royal baby: will Kate Middleton have a boy or a girl?

► ENTERTAINMENT : Breakup Sex. Sometimes the best way to end things is with a bang. Published on Jan 15, 2015 by BuzzFeedYellow

► ENTERTAINMENT : Anne Hathaway Reacts to Amal Clooney Comparisons Over Resemblance. "Extra's" Tracey Edmonds recently caught up with actress Anne Hathaway to chat about her new film, "Song One." While the two were chatting, Tracey couldn't help but bring up the actress's striking similarity to George Clooney's wife Amal. Published on Jan 14, 2015 by extratv

► HOW TO & STYLE : Sex Positions Attempted By Real People Pt. 3 | Cosmopolitan. Published on Sep 22, 2014 by Cosmopolitan.com

► MUSIC: Thinking Out Loud / I'm Not The Only One MASHUP (Sam Tsui & Casey Breves). Published on Jan 19, 2015 by TheSamSui

► NEWS & POLITICS: President al-Assad's interview with Charlie Rose of American CBS News. Published on Mar 31, 2015 by Jero Berr

► NEWS & POLITICS : President Assad Interview with Charlie Rose-CBSNEWS| 29 Mar 2015. Charlie Rose interview with the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad | 26 Mar 2015 | Damascus. Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad responded to question about the alleged use of chlorine bombs by the Syrian army by saying it is "propaganda". "This is part of the malicious propaganda against Syria," Assad said during an interview with Charlie Rose. Assad said "chlorine gas is not military gas" because "you can buy it anywhere" and called the use of traditional arms "more important than chlorine." Published on Mar 29, 2015 by Thalamus Syri

► SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY : How to scare off a marauding elephant! How do you scare off a hungry elephant? With a hungry tiger, of course. Published on Mar 23, 2015 by Science Magazine

► PEOPLE & BLOG : The Illegal Big Cats of Instagram. Buying illegal wild animals in Kuwait is, as one local puts it, "as easy as acquiring a cupcake." Pets have long been used as status symbols the world over, but citizens of the Gulf take the prize when it comes to keeping the most exotic, controversial species—most commonly, "big cat" cubs. International law governing Kuwait and other Gulf states forbids the import and sale of wild animals, yet the sight of supercars being driven around with a cheetah in the front seat is starting to become commonplace on Arab Instagram feeds. Although there are legal ways to bring an animal into Kuwait, paying people off along the way is easier. Lion, cheetah, and tiger cubs are in the highest demand, fetching up to $15,000 each through black market agents. More often than not, the owners have little idea how to care for these creatures, which have no history of domestication and quickly become unmanageable—even lethal—once they're fully grown. In Big Cats of the Gulf, VICE investigates the area's flourishing trade in animal trafficking and how it impacts the depleting wildcat populations of Central and East Africa. We gain exclusive access to Kuwait's biggest Instagram star of the big cat phenomenon and hear first-hand of the deadly consequences of the business—both for the animals and their owners. Published on Mar 25, 2015 by VICE

► TRAVEL & EVENTS : National Geographic Man v. Lion | Lion Documentary 2015. Veteran big cat expert Boone Smith explores each stage of a lion’s kill — the stalk, the pursuit, the jump, strength and the bite — all leading up to the final face-off: Boone in the middle of lions devouring their prey, close enough to feel their breath. Published on Feb 24, 2015 by Leonard Barber

► MUSIC : His name is Wesseh Freeman, he's a self-taught singer and composer from Monrovia (Liberia). Wesseh is blind and plays music in the streets to make a living. This video was recorded on 8 June 2013 in Ducor Hotel Monrovia. Published on Jun 10, 2013 by Francois B. || ► O! Chips, Liberia. The theme song. Artist: Weesay the free-spirited Liberian. My brother got a street musician named weesay the free spirited Liberian in monrovia, Liberia to do a jingle for our brand of potato chips. Published on Dec 10, 2014 by Nicky Ramchandani

► PEOPLE & BLOG 18 March 2015 : Boy loses best friend. Published on Mar 18, 2015 by Brooke Geherman

► NEWS & POLITICS : 'IS destruction of Nimrud' on video. Video posted on a social media website purports to show the destruction of the ancient city of Nimrud by Islamic State forces. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Published on Apr 12, 2015 by Reuters

■ Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron - Trailer 3. Ultron lays out his plans for decimating Earth's Mightiest Heroes in the latest trailer for Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron," in theaters May 1! Published on Mar 4, 2015 by Marvel Entertainment
■ Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" - Teaser Trailer (OFFICIAL). Get your first look at Ultron trying to tear apart Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and the rest of the world in the first official teaser trailer for Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron," in theaters May 1, 2015! Published on Oct 22, 2014 by Marvel Entertainment

► Iran nuclear talks miss deadline; Russia says 'key aspects' agreed - By Louis Charbonneau, John Irish and Parisa Hafezi
LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Six world powers and Iran negotiated past a March 31 deadline, struggling to conclude an outline accord on Tehran's nuclear program in the face of a U.S. threat to abandon the talks.

► Republicans demand vote on Iran nuclear deal - By Warren Strobel
WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans pressed their demand that the Congress be allowed to vote on a nuclear agreement with Iran, but say they are willing to wait for last week's interim agreement to be finalized before passing judgment.

► U.S. speeds arms to coalition strikes in Yemen - By Angus McDowall and Mohammed Mukhashaf
RIYADH/ADEN - The United States is speeding up arms supplies and bolstering intelligence sharing with a Saudi-led alliance bombing a militia aligned with Iran in neighboring Yemen. |Video

► Obama concedes Congress role on Iran nuclear deal - By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama conceded that Congress will have the power to review a nuclear deal with Iran, reluctantly giving in to pressure from Republicans and some in his own party after they crafted a rare compromise demanding a say.

You talk about the dress cost? Oh, it does not matter to me. Look at her carelfully! She looks more ugly because her body is getting thinner and thinner. It seems, her body is being eaten by a latent chronic diseases.

To any reporter, please, ask her about her health. There are many beautiful women wearing expensive clothes, too, but (for me) health is incomparable. Moreover, expensive clothes still look expensive when worn by a mannequin though, right?

And you will always be beautiful when you are healthy although your body just wearing a simple outfit with standard price.

What the hell is this? Ehehehe, she does not need to pretend to sell her brain for what she is referring to is her big breasts. This is just about the sex organs, and she feels proud with matters related to sex hormones? If a teenage boy watching her and he reacts hormonally, then he will find a way to resolve the problem: having sex with his friend, prostitutes or masturbation spontaneously. Well, it is my guess on the boy's sexual response. Do not ask me what will happen to adult males if they are watching her, ahahaha ... because I know I can be wrong, given that men and women today are the same, .... what the heck?

Because I'm not a lesbian, of course I do not like to see her. Maybe my partner likes her, I'll ask him later. And I do not need to be upset if my partner likes women than men, because it means he is a normal man. Yes, but this does not mean an endorsement for him to sleep with other women as much as he wants, because I only have one heart to tolerate everything. And as a woman, I feel embarrassed and offended if I will be considered meaningful in life competition if things are highlighted from me just only about my tits, my ass, my groin, my lips, my pussy, and so on. Sorry, I want to heighten the degree of my own life with things more humane. Thank you for your appreciation.

To the little boy, mmm... maybe yes. But for making this video, no. A person who recorded this video to let the child do it: losing his fish. Someone can buy the boy a new fish, but will this cuteness still be funny if repeated? I can't smile twice for a same cuteness.

I do not think anything about him, too. ehehehe. I also do not care if actually he wants to be perceived as effeminate ehehehe. I do not have time for children aged 16 years, let alone to think about whether he has been able to stand up straight while peeing. ehhhee.

► PROGRAMME : Development of chins linked to cooking. Researchers have been trying to work out why humans appear to be the only mammals with chins and now think it may be down to the fact that humans started cooking food. Dr James Pampush, from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Florida, says he couldn't link it with any natural selection and thinks it is connected to teeth shrinking as our early ancestors started cooking food and large teeth were no longer needed. "It's very strange that not only does every human have a chin, but, we're also the only things that do," he said. Release date: 06 Apr 2015

► Hillary's Biggest Test - Hillary Clinton's second campaign for President began with an understated video announcement — not the balloons, speeches or arena announcements that hopefuls traditionally employ. Her top challenge remains the inevitability of her own campaign

Correctly! The water role is so important in life. Rationally, I can live without my partner, but to live without water ... Oh, no, no... Ops! O yes I can! I can! I can live without water, as long as I'm not human, for example, I am just a speck of dust in your window glasses...

So, my beloved plants, please be patient. We are in a similar expectation.

CZ

"Thank you for your perception! I like your romantic side, even if I do not always comment and I'm glad that you're in my circle of friends."(Courtesies by: Wolfgang A. Gerhardt)

Wolfgang A.Gerhardt : May be you like this Sunday collage

Cisca Zarmansyah : Before today, there never was a person doing this to me. You create a simple matter to look special. This is a special thing for me.

Cisca Zarmansyah : Thank you. I love it. I love you, my friend. ♥

CieL- FreYa Ceastle : Hmm, he's so nice...

"I am me.
In all the world,
there is no one else exactly like me.
Everything that comes out of me
is authentically mine,
because I alone chose it --
I own everything about me:
my body,
my feelings,
my mouth,
my voice,
all my actions,
whether they be to others or myself.
I own my fantasies,
my dreams,
my hopes,
my fears.
I own my triumphs and successes,
all my failures and mistakes.
Because I own all of me,
I can become intimately acquainted with me.
By so doing,
I can love me
and be friendly with all my parts.
I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me,
and other aspects that I do not know
-- but as long as I am friendly
and loving to myself,
I can courageously and hopefully
look for solutions
to the puzzles and ways
to find out more about me.
However I look and sound,
whatever I say and do,
and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time
is authentically me.
If later some parts of how I looked,
sounded,
thought,
and felt
turn out to be unfitting,
I can discard that which is unfitting,
keep the rest,
and invent something new
for that which I discarded.
I can see,
hear,
feel,
think,
say, and do.
I have the tools to survive,
to be close to others,
to be productive,
and to make sense
and order out of the world of people
and things outside of me.
I own me,
and therefore,
I can engineer me.
I am me,
and I am okay."

VIRGINIA SATIR
(American Phychologist and Educator, 1916-1988)

About Me

"When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent. I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent. I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out. I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews, I remained silent. I wasn't a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out." - Martin Niemöller